The Power of Probiotics

August 29, 2008

There is a lot of talk these days about the value of probiotics. Probiotics are the “good bacteria” that are naturally supposed to live in your gut. There are literally hundreds of strains of these bacteria, and they play an important role in immune function, weight loss, vitamin status, detoxification, absorption and digestion. When you take antibiotics, they clear out the “bad bacteria” in your gut, but they also clear out the good bacteria, and like every other system in the body, it is vital that you maintain balance in the gut. You need enough good bacteria in your gut to prevent bad bacteria from taking hold and causing symptoms. This bad bacteria can take many forms which can cause a wide range of symptoms such as a cold gas, bloating, fatigue and many others.

In my practice, one mistake I often see patients making is taking too much of one strain of a good bacteria, like acidophillus, to the exclusion of other good bacteria like Lactobacillus GG and sacharomyces.  When I test their levels of probiotics in their gut, I find that they have an overgrowth of one strain.  So again, it is about balance. If you take a probiotic, rotate which one you take, about every three months. Some of my favorites include ABX Support (especially if you are taking or have recently taken antibiotics), Probiotic Pearls and Culturelle.

Here’s to a healthy and happy gut!

-Dr. Gina

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Posted by Dr. Gina Nick

Healthy Meals Equal Better Grades in School

August 28, 2008

One of the most important components to children functioning at their best in school and on the playground is proper nutrition.  The Washington Post just reported on this subject, offering valuable tips and resources  to ensure that your child gets the nutrition he/she needs. Children who eat healthy, satisfying dinners sleep better, and are more alert the following morning. And children who eat a balanced nourishing breakfast and lunch have better neurotransmitter activity and improved concentration during the day.  Supplementation is also an important option to consider in children who are not getting the nutrition their brain and body need, particularly if they are challenged with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder or Autism Spectrum Disorder.

In health,

–Dr. Gina

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Posted by Dr. Gina Nick

The Value of Estriol for Women

August 27, 2008

Many women rely on the benefits of compounded, bio-identical hormones that include estriol, the safest and most protective form of estrogen that is naturally made by the body.  In January of this year, the FDA ordered pharmacies to ban the use of estriol even though 80% of bio-identical hormone replacement therapy prescriptions use it, and estriol is a hormone that is naturally manufactured by the human body.  The FDA feels that estriol is a “new and unapproved drug” and hence its safety is unknown.  However, according to the HOME coalition, the FDA has admitted that no adverse event involving compounded bio-identical estriol has ever been reported.  A research study supported by the Department of Defense followed 15,000 women for 40 years, monitoring their estriol levels. This landmark study found that the women with the highest levels of estriol had a 58% reduced risk of developing breast cancer.  And women whose estriol levels rose the highest during pregnancy (up to 1,000 fold) had the lowest risk of breast cancer.  It is also interesting to note that, as a group, Asian women have some of the highest levels of estriol in their body, and the least incidence of breast cancer.  The lead researcher for this study, Dr. Pentii K. Siiteri, PhD,  remarked that the finding from this study “suggests that estriol might be an effective option for either breast cancer prevention or treatment regimens.”

As a practicing Naturopathic Medical Doctor that sees countless women with hormone deficiencies in my practice, I am in full support of the use of estriol in some women, particularly those who are deficient in the hormone as revealed through laboratory testing.

Some of the main benefits women report with the use of Estriol in Bio-identical Hormone Therapy include:

  • Renewed sex drive
  • Healthier, more elastic skin
  • Improved mood
  • Better sleep
  • More energy
  • Greater sense of vitality

To help protect your freedom to access this safe and effective hormone please take a moment to visit www.homecoalition.org.

–Dr. Gina

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Posted by Dr. Gina Nick

Meditation and Nutraceuticals- a True Prescription for High Blood Pressure

August 21, 2008

Today’s NPR morning edition,  “To Lower Blood Pressure, Open Up and Say ‘Om'”,  discussed research demonstrating that a daily meditation practiceincreases nitric oxide levels, which opens up blood vessels, and decreases blood pressure.  A physician interviewed on the show, Dr. Zusman, talked about how he was able to reduce his patients blood pressure prescription medications.  Taking it a step further, it would be helpful to interview licensed Naturopathic Physicianswho recommend meditation together with nutrients and herbs proven to maintain healthy blood pressure levels. Some of the natural medicines we use in practice include:

Hawthorne Berry Extract

Magnesium

N-Acetyl-Cysteine

Taurine

Vanadium

Vitamin B6

Potassium

Pomegranate Extract

These medicines do not have the side effects that are common with prescription drugs, and the results I see in practice are excellent. They work on various mechanisms that affect blood pressure including acting as natural ACE inhibitors, calcium channel blockers, diuretics, beta-blockers, endothelial protectors, renin regulators and antioxidants. It typically takes about 30 days of consistent use to see significant results.

So before reaching for the prescription pad, why not first try a more natural, and less expensive, approach to helping our body to heal.

-Dr. Gina

3 Comments | Diet and Disease, Latest Nutritional Research, Naturopathic Medicine, Nutritional Supplements and Disease, Pharmaceuticals | Tagged: , , , , | Permalink
Posted by Dr. Gina Nick

The Gluten-Free Diet Fad?

August 19, 2008

There is a lot more talk out there these days about the dangers of gluten.  Some people have full blown celiac disease, where their body can be severely damaged by ingesting gluten. Others have a mild, moderate or severe intolerance to gluten and gliadin in their diet.  At LTP Natural Medical Center I test patients for gluten intolerance through an IgG blood test that looks for specific foods that the body mounts an immune response to.  When those foods are eliminated from the diet, patients feel better. And gluten is often on the list.  So while some skeptics will say that gluten-free is just a fad, I do not agree.  This is a very real condition, even for patients not diagnosed with celiac disease.  Going deeper, however, I find that if we focus on testing for, and repairing the integrity of the digestive tract, these food intolerance’s fall away.  So if we want to go to the root cause, I would say compromised digestion is the place to look.

-Dr. Gina

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Affordable, Healthy Foods

August 5, 2008

As food prices climb, and the health of our nation, and our nation’s children, disintegrates, we have the opportunity to return to a simpler, more healthful diet. Here are 10 suggestions to get you started:

1. Oats
High in fiber and complex carbohydrates, oats have also been shown to lower cholesterol. And they sure are cheap—a dollar will buy you more than a week’s worth of hearty breakfasts.

2. Organic Eggs
You can get about a half dozen of eggs for a dollar, and organic eggs for a dollar fifty, making them one of the cheapest and most versatile sources of protein. They are also a good source of the antioxidants lutein and zeaxanthin, which may ward off age-related eye problems.

3. Kale
This dark, leafy green is loaded with vitamin C, carotenoids, and calcium. Like most greens, it is usually a dollar a bunch.

4. Potatoes
Because we often see potatoes at their unhealthiest—as fries or chips—we don’t think of them as nutritious, but they definitely are. Eaten with the skin on, potatoes contain almost half a day’s worth of Vitamin C, and are a good source of potassium. If you opt for sweet potatoes or yams, you’ll also get a good wallop of beta carotene. Plus, they’re dirt cheap and have almost endless culinary possibilities.

5. Nuts
Though nuts have a high fat content, they’re packed with the good-for-you fats—unsaturated and monounsaturated. They’re also good sources of essential fatty acids, Vitamin E, and protein. And because they’re so nutrient-dense, you only need to eat a little to get the nutritional benefits. Although some nuts, like pecans and macadamias, can be costly, peanuts, walnuts, and almonds, especially when bought in the shell, are low in cost.

6. Bananas
At a local Trader Joe’s, I found bananas for about 19¢ apiece; a dollar gets you a banana a day for the workweek. High in potassium and fiber (9 grams for one), bananas are a no-brainer when it comes to eating your five a day quotient of fruits and veggies.

7. Garbanzo Beans
With beans, you’re getting your money’s worth and then some. Not only are they a great source of protein and fiber, but ’bonzos are also high in fiber, iron, folate, and manganese, and may help reduce cholesterol levels. And if you don’t like one type, try another—black, lima, lentils … the varieties are endless. Though they require soaking and cooking, the most inexpensive way to purchase these beans is in dried form; a precooked can will still only run you around a buck.

8. Broccoli
Broccoli contains tons of nice nutrients—calcium, vitamins A and C, potassium, folate, and fiber. As if that isn’t enough, broccoli is also packed with phytonutrients, compounds that may help prevent heart disease, diabetes, and certain cancers. Plus, it’s low in calories and cost.

9. Pumpkin Seeds
When it’s time to carve your pumpkin this October, don’t shovel those seeds into the trash—they’re a goldmine of magnesium, protein, and trace minerals. Plus, they come free with the purchase of a pumpkin.

10. Butternut Squash
This beautiful gourd swings both ways: sometimes savory, sometimes sweet. However you prepare the butternut, it will not only add color and texture, but also five grams of fiber per half cup and chunks and chunks of Vitamin A and C. When in season, butternut squash and related gourds are usually less than a dollar a pound.

Adapted from this original post on Divine Caroline

-Dr. Gina

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New Study Finds that Scented Laundry Products, Air Fresheners are Hazardous to your Health

July 25, 2008

New research by the University of Washington shows that scented laundry detergents and fragrances are hazardous to your health.  The study looked at six of the leading laundry products and air fresheners and found that all of these products emitted nearly 100 disease-promoting volatile organic compounds and none of these chemicals were listed on the product labels. One of my books, Clinical Purification,  discusses ways in which volatile organic compounds lead to disease in the body, including cancer.  It is important to test for toxic chemicals and toxic damage in the body, and to detoxify the body as a means of preventing diseases in the future.  As this research study reveals, it is also important that we use non-toxic household products to minimize our exposure to disease-promoting chemicals. Fortunately there are lots of them available these days.  Some of my favorites include Thieves household cleaner and wipes (you can use the # 931983 to order the products direct from the manufacturer) and products by Seventh Generation.

–Dr. Gina

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Posted by Dr. Gina Nick

Study Finds that 89 Percent of Children’s Food Products Cause Harm to their Health

July 17, 2008

Nutrition is the cornerstone of good health. We eat at least three times per day-making nutrition one of the most important parts of our lifestyle. If you have a poor diet, it impacts your entire day and night. And if you have a healthy diet it also impacts your entire day and night.  It is a sorry state of affairs when analysis of foods for children reveals that 70 percent of children’s food products are too high in sugar- one of the most damaging ingredients to the human body, and 23 percent are high in fat.  Given that the incidence of obesity and heart disease is on the rise in the younger generation, it is time that parents wake up and take action.  When you feed your children unhealthy foods, high in sugar and fat, and don’t find ways to incorporate fresh fruits and vegetables into their diet, you are impacting the quality of their entire life.  The nutritional status of a child affects his/her immune function, mental function and overall health and well-being throughout life.  And while children may not show any symptoms of ill-health while eating a poor diet, significant harm is occurring internally, which, over time, will manifest as disease.  The sickest adults I treat in my practice inevitably grew up with a poor diet. And the healthiest grew up with a parent or parents that ensured that they had the proper levels of nutrients in their diet and low levels of harmful ingredients like refined sugar and fried foods.

Ignoring the nutrient needs of a child is a form of abuse with the consequences showing up much later in life.  And providing proper nutrition does not have to be a financial burden.  Here are some basic tips:

-Do not buy foods that have refined sugar or any hydrogenated fats.  Save money by staying away from packaged cereals, crackers and chips that are marketed to children. You are paying for the packaging and marketing while the quality of the foods inside is usually poor.

-Stay away from fast food.

-Make nutrition a priority in your household.

-Start an organic garden and get your children involved in the process. They will be more likely to eat and enjoy the produce that they had a hand in creating!

The reward for this effort? Calmer, more peaceful and healthier children.

– Dr. Gina

—

ScienceDaily (July 15, 2008) — Most kids’ foods provide poor nutritional quality, but packaging claims and healthy images could be misleading parents, according to a Canadian study. Professor Charlene Elliott used US guidelines to review 367 products. 70 percent of the products had higher than recommended sugar levels, 23 percent had high fat levels and 17 percent had high salt levels.
Nine out of ten regular food items aimed specifically at children have a poor nutritional content — because of high levels of sugar, fat or sodium – according to a detailed study of 367 products published in the July issue of the UK-based journal Obesity Reviews.

Just under 70 per cent of the products studied – which specifically excluded confectionery, soft drinks and bakery items – derived a high proportion of calories from sugar. Approximately one in five (23 per cent) had high fat levels and 17 per cent had high sodium levels. Despite this, 62 per cent of the foods with poor nutritional quality (PNQ) made positive claims about their nutritional value on the front of the packet.

“Children’s foods can now be found in virtually every section of the supermarket and are available for every eating experience” says Professor Charlene Elliott from the University of Calgary, Canada, and a Trustee of the Canadian Council of Food and Nutrition.

“Parents may have questions about which packaged foods are good for their children. Yet certain nutritional claims may add to the confusion, as they can mislead people into thinking the whole product is nutritious.”

Only 11 per cent of the products Professor Elliott and her colleagues evaluated provided good nutritional value in line with the criteria laid down by the US-based Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI), a non-profit agency that received the Food and Drug Administration’s highest honour in 2007.

The CSPI nutritional standards state that healthy food should not derive more than 35 per cent of its calories from fat (excluding nuts and seed and nut butters) and should have no more than 35 per cent added sugar by weight. They also provide guidance on sodium levels, ranging from 230mg per portion for snacks through to 770mg per portion for pre-prepared meals.
CSPI’s standards are adapted from those developed by the National Alliance for Nutrition and Activity, a coalition of some 300 health and nutrition organisations in the USA. The organisation states that its standards represent a compromise approach. They allow for the marketing of products that may not be nutritionally ideal, but that provide some positive nutritional benefits that could help children meet the US Government’s Dietary Guidelines for Americans.

The 367 products included in the study were bought from a national supermarket chain stocking 50,000 food and non-food items in December 2005. Each had to meet very specific criteria.

“We included food products and packaging that were presented in such a way that children were the clear target audience” explains Professor Elliott, whose research was funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research. “They included products that promoted fun and play, had a cartoon image on the front of the box or were linked to children’s films, TV programmes and merchandise.”

Each product was subjected to a 36-point analysis that included the nutritional content and how the packaging was designed to appeal to children and their parents.

Key findings included:

  • 63 per cent of all the products surveyed made some sort of nutritional claim, including 62 per of the products that could be classed as poorly nutritious, due to high levels of sugar or fat or sodium. A low percentage (eight per cent) carried some kind of nutrition mark or seal. Other claims included that products were low fat, a source of calcium, contained no artificial flavours or colours or provided a number of essential nutrients.
  • Products with high sugar levels accounted for 70 per cent of the goods with PNQ. Despite this, 68 per cent included some sort of nutritional claim on the package, such as a source of whole grains, source of iron or low in fat. Cereals and fruit snacks were particularly likely to make nutritional claims and have high levels of sugar.
  • Just under 23 per cent of the products had PNQ because of their high fat content. Yet 37 per cent had some sort of nutritional claim on the package. For example peanut butter mixed with chocolate claimed to be a “source of six essential nutrients” and a pizza product claimed to be a “source of calcium”.
  • High sodium levels meant that 17 per cent of the products analysed were classified as being of PNQ. Despite this, almost 34 per cent made some sort of nutritional claim on the package. Crackers and pizza products were among the worst offenders.
  • A fifth of the products featured a cartoon image engaged in some sort of healthy physical activity on the front and a quarter showed these on the back or side of the box. Activities included skateboarding, basketball and biking.

“Assessing the levels of sugar in the selected food products was a methodological challenge, because milk sugars and fruit sugars occur naturally in foods” says Professor Elliott. “The Nutrition Facts label only displays total sugars and the quantity of added sugars is not always provided by the manufacturer.

“This means that the percentage of foods categorised as poorly nutritious due to high levels of sugar is higher than it would have been if information on naturally occurring sugars had been available.”

The problem of accurately separating figures for quantities of natural and added sugars in manufactured products has also been encountered by other researchers and acknowledged as an issue by CSPI, so it is not unique to this study.
“Despite this, the findings still give us cause for concern” says Professor Elliott. “While caregivers are likely to purchase products that they hope their children will like, it clearly can result in a less nutritious diet than they may realise. Having a healthy diet is especially important given the current rates of childhood obesity.”

Excess body weight affects up to 35 per cent of children across Canada, the United States a
nd Europe and is linked to a range of health problems including type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease and some forms of cancer. Overweight children can also suffer from psychological and social consequences because of their weight.

Professor Elliott believes that policy attention needs to be directed towards the nutritional claims made by products aimed at children and the images they use to sell the products.

“If a parent sees a product that makes specific nutritional claims, they may assume that the whole product is nutritious and our study has shown that that is definitely not true in the vast majority of cases” concludes Professor Elliott. “Using cartoon characters engaged in sport can also create the illusion of a healthy product.”

Journal reference:

  1. Elliott et al. Assessing ‘fun foods’: nutritional content and analysis of supermarket foods targeted at children. Obesity Reviews, 2008; 9 (4): 368 DOI: 10.1111/j.1467-789X.2007.00418.x

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Posted by Dr. Gina Nick

Taking a Summer Break from ADHD Meds

July 16, 2008

Summer is a perfect time for kids to take a break from their ADHD meds. Some experts feel that taking a medication vacation when your child is heading off to summer camp can be problematic. This is because with psychotropic medications like ADHD drugs and antidepressants, symptoms can get worse when you stop the medication-even worse then they were when you first started the treatment.

However, there is a light at the end of the tunnel.  If you start working with a qualified and licensed Naturopathic Medical Doctor experienced in treating ADHD without psychotropic medications, then you can start naturopathic  treatment before taking your child off the medication, making the transition to a medication-free holiday a smooth one.

Some of the foundational natural medicines I use in practice when helping children get off of their prescription medications include:

  • Digestion and Absorption of Nutrients
  • Immune Support
  • Full Spectrum Antioxidant, Alkalizing, Daily Detoxification
    • ½-1 scoop of ITI Greens Formula in juice or water. *Note- can mix with Coconut Milk Powder if desired to improve taste
  • Multivitamin-Mineral
    • 1 scoop of Spectrum Awakening, three times daily, away from protein food. Can be mixed with juice or applesauce.
  • Neurological Support

    • Learn more about ADHD and how to treat the underlying cause of this condition by clicking on the links below:

    Whole Food Nutrition for ADHD

    Nutritional Treatment for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: The Hype and the Hope -A Review of Current Research

    –Dr. Gina

    5 Comments | ADHD, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Childhood Nutrition, Latest Nutritional Research, Naturopathic Medicine, Nutritional Supplements and Disease, Orthomolecular Psychiatry, Pharmaceuticals | Tagged: , , , , , , | Permalink
    Posted by Dr. Gina Nick

    Doctor moves beyond ‘fixing the broken piece’

    July 10, 2008

    This article discusses the transition that one primary care doctor made from a typical medical practice, seeing 25-30 patients per day to an integrative medical practice where she focuses on treating the underlying cause of symptoms rather then applying a band-aid to the problem.  She took on line courses and three one-week sessions to learn about integrative medicine.

    Unfortunately many people are not aware that Licensed Naturopathic Medical Doctors practice primary care medicine and integrative medicine as the base of their practice. To properly practice this type of medicine Licensed Naturopathic Medical Doctors spend four years in medical school, beyond their undergraduate work, and take medical boards in order to receive their license and practice integrative medicine. Big difference. This specialized group of physicians is actually trained on how to practice integrative, holistic, natural medicine for four years, on campus (not on line) interacting with the leaders in the field of integrative medicine throughout their medical education.

    I seem to end up with a lot of patients in our practice who went to a traditional MD, like the doctor in this article, that then “converted” to a more holistic approach to medicine.  They are usually patients with complex chronic illnesses, that did not see the results they were looking for when working with an MD who learned about natural medicine through a satellite program or continuing education classes.  In these cases, fixing their diet and lifestyle and testing for heavy metals while using acupuncture didn’t cut it.

    Doctors like Kinigakis, the physician highlighted in the article, serve an important role in our evolving health care system and it is great that they are tipping the scale back to a more balanced view of the body and how it can heal itself.

    Experience with patients, and with colleagues like Kinigakis, that I teach around the country, reveals that licensed  Naturopathic Medical Doctors (NMDs or NDs) who received their education at a four year CNME approved Naturopathic Medical School, have a different level of training and a more in-depth understanding and appreciation for how to use the tools that natural medicine has to offer.  It seems that NMDs are operating in a different paradigm entirely, rather then trying to fit natural medicine into the existing and prevailing medical paradigm of our times.  And that leads to a different level of success when working with  patients who are ready to heal.

    -Dr. Gina

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